1. Take Glucosamine
Glucosamine is one of the standard natural treatments for osteoarthritis. It rebuilds cartilage destroyed by osteoarthritis and keeps existing cartilage safe. Glucosamine is available in liquid or powder form, and the typical therapeutic dose is 1,500 mg a day. You should start seeing results from glucosamine within two to three months of starting it.
2. Take an Anti-Inflammatory Pain Reliever
Your doctor will probably prescribe a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug for you. This type of drug reduces both pain and inflammation, so it's appropriate for taking for most types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This type of drug can irritate your stomach, however, so it should always be taken with food. Some people who have a history of acid reflux or ulcers also need to take an acid-reducing drug along with their non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
3. Take a DMARD
Disease-modifying, anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used to manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and induce remission. Working on a cellular level, these drugs attack the disease processes at their roots, reducing and eliminating inflammation, swelling and joint destruction. DMARDs may take up to two months to start working, but their beneficial effects may last for years. Some people find that they experience remissions when on these drugs. DMARDs have traditionally been taken once a day by mouth in tablet form. However, newer DMARDs are available as injections you give yourself once a week to once every two weeks. There are also some DMARDs that are given in an IV at a doctor's office every four to eight weeks.
4. Exercise Regularly
Even though you won't feel like exercising too much when you have arthritis, you still need to get out there and do it. Sitting around and not moving will just make your joints stiffer and may actually contribute to joint deformity. Regular exercise will keep your joints flexible and your muscles strong. You don't need to do anything too strenuous. Thirty minutes of walking, followed by 15 minutes of gentle stretching three to four times a week is often sufficient. If you're able, adding 15 minutes of mild-to-moderate weight lifting will help keep your bones strong and ward off osteoporosis.
